Improvement in stove-platforms



W. M. GUNGEB Stove-Platforms.

No.157,273. Patented Dec.1,1874.

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WALTER M. OONGER, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOVE-PLATFORMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,273, dated December 1, 1874; application filed September 18, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVALTER M. OONGER, of Newark, Essex county, in the State of New Jersey, have invented certain Improvements relating to Stove-Platforms, of which the following is a specification:

The legs of the stove are supported on a metal surface, which rests upon a thickness of wood. In the center the metallic surfacing is domed or raised to a higher level,.so as to form a deep air-space underneath.

Many efforts have been made, and patents taken by myself and 0thers,'to produce a stove-support which shall be adapted to fulfill all the desired conditions, and shall be cheap and durable. The use of wood has heretofore involved a crossing of difl'erent layers or other compounding, or a necessity for leaving the edges unfastened, to avoid distortion from shrinkage. I have, after much experiment, overcome the difiiculties.

In my improved construction the wood portion is made in a single thickness, in the form of short sections or segments, along the edge. The segments should be so short and thick that a line drawn from the outer end m of one of the joints to the corresponding end m of the adjacent joint would lie wholly within the material. The grain of the wood should coincide with such line. The several segments or sections of the wood portion are joined together, first, by firmly tonguing and grooving, and then by clamping with staples. Each staple is driven astride of a seam, or with one leg in one segment and the other leg in another.

The outer edge of my platform may be prepared in any suitable manner which will present a tasty finish. I propose to encompass the edge in a properly spun band of German silver, or other suitable material; or I can simply make the metallic cover a little larger, and spin down the edge, so as to embrace the wood.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view from above. Fig.

2 is a cross-section through the center, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line S S in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A sheet of rolled zinc isprepared by suitable machinery with a dome or swell, so that the center will stand higher than the portion on which the stove-legs rest. A represents the flat or unafi'ected portion of the sheet of zinc on which the stove-legs rest when in use. A represents the central rise or dome, which includes a large portion of the sheet in and near the center. A represents a portion of the sheet metal near the edge, which is spun down to cover the edge of the wood, and turned inward. The wood is formed in segments B B, with the grain running in the lines m m. The segments are secured together by a tongue, I), on one edge of each, fitting tightly into a groove in the adjacent edge of the adjoining segment. 0 O are iron staples of proper length, driven into the wood astride of the joint, so as to strongly clasp together the several segments, and form a continuous support quite around. The central hole in the wood may be left entirely empty, and form a deep air-chamber under the dome A or it may be filled, or partly filled, by another piece of wood or other suitable non-conductor.

Wood in shrinking does not change its dimensions lengthwise of the grain. My segments do not shorten on the lines m m,- consequently the wood maintains its bearing invariably against the edge metal A at the points m. Any amount of shrinkage desired may occur in the other direction without disturbing or throwing any strain on any part. Nails or other fastenings may be applied at or near the points m, to secure the metal A to the wood, and no strain can be thrown upon the parts thereby by any after shrinkage.

I believe that my improved stove support will serve very successsfully if the whole surface of each wood segment B is allowed to bear on the floor or carpet; but on some material, particularly some kinds of oil-cloth, the wood is liable to absorb some of the coloring material, or otherwise induce evils. I prefer,

therefore, to turn out a shallow annular cavity in the wood portion, as indicatedby b in Fig. 2.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with the domed metal surfacing A A, and wood segments B underlying the flat portion thereof, the tongues b, and staples O 0 joining the adjacent edges of the Wood segments, as herein specified.

2. The annular shallow groove b in the Wood body B of a stove-support, as specified. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 15th day of September, 1874, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER M. GONGER.

. Witnesses:

J. WHITEHEAD, .HENRY J. MILLs. 

